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Intel Undersecretary Named to National Intelligence Post

WASHINGTON, May 24, 2007  The undersecretary of defense for intelligence will also now serve as the director of defense intelligence.

James R. Clapper Jr. is being “dual-hatted” as part of a memorandum of agreement signed by Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates and Director of National Intelligence John M. “Mike” McConnell.

Clapper will help coordinate the seamless flow of intelligence between the Defense Department and the Office of the Director of National Intelligence.

“The idea remains to provide the best intelligence possible to the warfighters,” said Amanda Cashwell, deputy director for policy, strategy and doctrine at the Office of the Undersecretary for Intelligence.

The two organizations made this move to improve sharing between the military and other national intelligence users, defense officials said. The new position will mean that Clapper will serve on the director of national intelligence’s executive committee. In that position, he will help coordinate intelligence-gathering efforts and serve as an advocate for defense customers to the greater intelligence community, and vice versa.

Cashwell said the change should have little impact on day-to-day operations within the defense intelligence agencies.

“There will be more sharing of intelligence and more cooperation among the agencies,” she said. “If this is done at the highest levels, it should make it easier for everyone to work together more closely.”

There will be no changes to statutory requirements from the creation of the Office of National Intelligence, nor any immediate effect on intelligence budget priorities, Defense Department officials said.

Clapper assumed his undersecretary duties April 11. He is a retired Air Force lieutenant general whose last duty assignment was as director of the Defense Intelligence Agency. He also served as the director of the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency from September 2001 to June 2006.